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Greyhound men come up short with makeshift lineup
The score may not be a good indicator but Fort Scott Community College's men played well even in a loss to Independence at Arnold Arena Saturday afternoon.
Considering the Greyhounds lost five players during the holiday break -- some went back home while starting forward Nathaniel Ward broke a wrist and will miss at least three weeks -- and were using Jacob Gougler as a point guard, which is not his natural position, to be in the game until the final minute was an indicator of how tough the Greyhounds might be.
It took some good free-throw shooting down the stretch in order for Indy to pull away for a 71-62 victory in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division play.
Regular point Bryce Kemp did not play, forcing Gougler to start at the point. He was unable to score but did dish 3 assists and grab 7 rebounds while doing about as well as a new point guard learning on the job can do.
"Right now, we're running with a makeshift point-guard situation with Jacob until Bryce comes back," Fort Scott head coach Michael Cook said. "And what's hurting us also is that we lose (a) point guard from Houston because his mom got cancer and he went home. I thought Jake did a good job for being put in there on short notice. When Bryce gets back, it'll calm us down. We're young at the point and we've got to understand we need to take care of the ball more. If we take care of the ball, we'll be in every game."
The inexperience at the point-guard slot contributed to Fort Scott's 23 turnovers. Independence committed only 7.
However, Caleb Brown stepped up and hit big shots at times and Fort Scott High School graduate Alex Barner continued his assimilation to the team with a 23-point effort. Barner joined the team after football season concluded and was playing in just his third game of the season
"Caleb (Brown) hit some shots and that opened up some things," Fort Scott head coach Michael Cook said. "And Alex (Barner) is getting into basketball shape and that helped open things up (inside). What we did is we started playing looser because we're at home and we hit some shots."
Fort Scott (0-4 East, 3-13 overall) lost for the ninth consecutive time and 10th time in its last 11 games. But this was its best chance to win in some time despite the circumstances.
The Greyhounds trailed 17-12 halfway through the opening half. But Brown banked in a long 3-pointer and Jamaal McCoy tied the score on a transition basket with 9:09 remaining. These were the first two scores of what turned into a 15-4 run that saw Fort Scott go up 27-21 after another McCoy basket with 5:30 to go.
Independence (3-1, 10-6) scored 7 straight to take the lead but McCoy put the 'Hounds back in front with an "old-fashioned" 3-point play with 3:18 to go. The Pirates scored 7 of the last 10 of the half to go into the locker room with a 35-33 lead.
Barner tied the score with the first basket of the second half. Indy posted 8 of the next 10 but the 'Hounds didn't let the Pirates pull away.
Ramell Taylor's tip-in sparked a started an 11-4 run that saw the 'Hounds go up 46-45 with 9:34 remaining in the contest. The Pirates scored the next 6 before Barner scored 5 straight to tie it at 51-51 with 6:53 left.
Tokie Aromona put Indy in front by converting a steal into a layup. Barner gave Fort Scott the lead for the last time, 54-53, on a 3-pointer with 5:50 remaining.
The Pirates scored the next 9 but McCoy and Taylor scored to bring the 'Hounds within 4.
Barner cut the deficit to 4 one last time by going coast-to-coast for a score with 38 seconds remaining to bring Fort Scott within 66-62. The Pirates closed out the game by going 5 for 6 at the free-throw line.
Barner hit 10 of 18 shots from the field in leading Fort Scott with 23 points. He also had 6 rebounds and blocked 3 shots.
"I think Alex brings things people don't see," Fort Scott head coach Michael Cook said. "He brings an attitude of winning from football but he also brings an attitude of doing whatever it takes to win. He's inside and outside. Tonight, he was posting up and hitting threes."
Taylor made 7 of 10 shots from the field to finish with 17 points. McCoy added 11 while Brown added 9 on three 3-point goals.
Fort Scott shot 53 percent from the field, making 25 of 47 shots. McCoy and Brown combined to go 7 for 7.
Aromona led Independence with 14 points. Derrick Washington, Bobby Jones and Jaurice Magg-Downing each added 11 for the Pirates, who shot 40 percent from the field on 25 of 63.
The 'Hounds outrebounded Indy, 36-29. McCoy grabbed 8 boards for the 'Hounds while Taylor had 7.
The high-shooting percentage may be a sign of the offense gelling a bit even though there are changes going on with the roster. Kemp was expected to return for Monday night's game at Johnson County (details of which will be in Wednesday's edition) while Cook said he would probably bring up a point guard who had been redshirting to provide some depth there.
"When you lose five players, you have to redefine some roles," Cook said. "Ro (Robert Hatcher) has to play more forward than he has in the past. Our offense is coming around. I think we'll gel at the right time. It doesn't look like it in the standings now but we're playing better than what people realize. The record doesn't show how hard these guys are working on the court."
"As long as we gel come playoff time, we'll be fine."
NOTES -- The 'Hounds will return home Wednesday night to play Cowley. Game time should be around 7:30 p.m., following the women's game....
INDEPENDENCE: D.Washington 4-9 2-2 11, McKenzie 4-11 1-1 9, Downing 3-8 0-1 7, Aromona 6-13 1-2 14, Jones 3-5 4-9 11, A.Washington 0-0 0-0 0, Laflin 0-0 0-0 0, Magg-Downing 2-5 7-8 11, Carter 0-0 0-0 0, Ensley 3-11 2-2 8, Smith 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS: 25-63 17-26 71.
FORT SCOTT: Mason 0-3 1-2 1, Hatcher 1-3 1-2 3, Brown 3-3 0-0 9, Taylor 7-10 3-3 17, Barner 10-18 0-0 23, McCoy 4-4 3-3 11, Gougler 0-6 0-1 0. TOTALS: 0-0 0-0 0.
Halftime: Independence, 35-33.
Three-point field goals: Independence 4-17 (Aromona 1-1, Downing 1-3, Jones 1-3, D.Washington 1-5, McKenzie 0-1, Magg-Downing 0-1, Ensley 0-3), Fort Scott 6-16 (Brown 3-3, Barner 3-8, Mason 0-1, Gougler 0-4)
Total fouls: Independence 11, Fort Scott 21. Fouled out: Taylor, McCoy. Technical fouls: None.
Rebounds: Independence 29 (Aromona 8), Fort Scott 36 (McCoy 8). Assists: Independence 9 (D.Washington 3), Fort Scott 12 (McCoy 4). Turnovers: Independence 7, Fort Scott 23. Steals: Independence 15 (Downing 5), Fort Scott 4 (4 with 1 each). Blocked shots: Independence 1 (Jones), Fort Scott 4 (Barner 3).